Harrop-Proctor residents protest upcoming ferry schedule

Over 150 residents from Harrop and Proctor kicked off the new year protesting the looming Harrop ferry workers strike, which would see the 24-seven route be dropped back to eight round trip sailings a day.

Proctor resident Valerie Farcelais joined her neighbours in a show of support for the impact about to come.

“We have a very peaceful protest just to show our support to the community and to establish the fact that cutting off our ferry as essential services is not okay.” said Farcelais.

“It’s going to be very complicated and we just want to gather together to show that we are a strong community together and we want to fight this together.”

The B.C. General Employees Union says a strike start date has not been confirmed, however, when it does, it will see the 24-7 service dropped back to eight round trip sailings a day across two block periods:

• 6:30am to 8am- four sailings per day
• 4:00pm to 5:30pm- four sailings per day

Outside that, only essential traffic will be allowed to cross.

“It is absolutely not sustainable for the community, absolutely not.” said Farcelais.

“We are a beautiful community and we stand together but what is happening right now it’s unacceptable and we’re gonna fight this the best that we can and we need all the support that we can have.”

“We have a lot of elder people, we have families, the families will be separated at night because the parents won’t be able to come back home.”